2009 Spaceport News Summary The 2009 Spaceport News used the above banner for the year. The “Spaceport News” portion picked up a bolder look, starting with the July 24, 2009, issue. Introduction The first issue of the Spaceport News was December 13, 1962. The 1963, 1964 and 1965 Spaceport News were issued weekly. The Spaceport News was issued every two weeks, starting July 7, 1966, until the last issue on February 24, 2014. Spaceport Magazine, a monthly issue, superseded the Spaceport News in April 2014, until the final issue, Jan./Feb. 2020. The two 1962 Spaceport News issues and the issues from 1996 until the final Spaceport Magazine issue, are available for viewing at this website. The Spaceport News issues from 1963 through 1995 are currently not available online. In this Summary, black font is original Spaceport News text, blue font is something I added or someone else/some other source provided, and purple font is a hot link. All links were working at the time I completed this Spaceport News Summary. The Spaceport News writer is acknowledged, if noted in the Spaceport News article. Page 1 From The January 9, 2009, Spaceport News On pages 4 and 5, “Scenes Around Kennedy Space Center”. “Space shuttle Endeavour is being lifted away from the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility on Dec. 13. The SCA gave the shuttle a piggyback ride from California, where Endeavour landed Nov. 30, ending the STS-126 mission.” On page 7, “747 took on jumbo task 35 years ago”, by Kay Grinter, Reference Librarian. Part of the feature states “NASA envisioned securing the shuttle to another aircraft for transport between ground locations. Modification of an existing jumbo jet into a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, was the most practical approach… Consideration was given to adapting the Lockheed C-5A Galaxy carrier and the Boeing 747 passenger aircraft. The availability of low-cost, used 747s swayed NASA’s decision, and Boeing was awarded the contract to make the modifications. NASA purchased a Boeing 747-123 from American Airlines for $15 million in July 1974… It was redesignated NASA 905… . About 7,000 pounds of pea rock were placed in the forward cargo bay for ballast. Approximately 1,400 pounds of pig iron were added to the main forward section for weight and balance… “The NASA logo on a hangar at Dryden Flight Research Center is framed by NASA’s two modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The one on the left is the 747-100 model, designated 911, and the other is the 747-100SR (short range), designated 905. The two aircraft are identical in appearance and performance as shuttle ferrys.” Page 2 In the ferry configuration, the SCA cruises low and slow -- typically 288 mph between 13,000 and 15,000 feet -- providing sky watchers with a good view as it flies by… Japan Airlines sold a second 747 to NASA in 1989. NASA took delivery of NASA 911 at the Boeing facilities in Wichita, Kan., in November 1990…”. Wikpidedia has a good read on the SCA. This is a video about the SCA. The following photos are from Wikipedia. From The January 23, 2009, Spaceport News On pages 1 and 2, “STS-119 crew arrives for TCDT”, by Linda Herridge, Spaceport News. Part of the feature says “A clear blue sky served as the backdrop as Discovery’s STS-119 crew members touched down at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility aboard T-38 aircraft Jan. 19, for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT… “STS-119 mission crew members head across the tarmac to greet the media after arriving at the Shuttle Landing Facility. From left, is Commander Lee Archambault, Pilot Tony Antonelli, and Mission Specialists Joseph Acaba, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold, John Phillips and Koichi Wakata. The crew flew to Kennedy Space Center to take part in Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities, which include equipment familiarization, emergency exit training, and a simulated launch countdown.” Page 3 They were greeted by Launch Director Mike Leinbach and NASA Test Director Pete Nickolenko, and then fielded questions from members of the news media during a brief Q-and-A… Just as they will on launch day, the crew suited up in the Operations and Checkout Building, boarded the Astrovan and traveled to Launch Pad 39A to participate in a simulated launch countdown Wednesday morning. In the afternoon they boarded the T-38 jets and returned to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.” The following STS-119 mission patch and description are from Wikipedia. “The shape of the STS-119/15A patch comes from the shape of a solar array viewed at an angle. The International Space Station (ISS), which is the destination of the mission, is placed accordingly in the center of the patch just below the gold astronaut symbol. The gold solar array of the ISS highlights the main cargo and task of STS-119/15A -- the installation of the S6 truss segment and deployment of S6's solar arrays, the last to be delivered to the ISS. The surnames of the crew members are denoted on the outer band of the patch. The 17 white stars on the patch represent, in the crew's words, "the enormous sacrifice the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia have given to our space program." The U.S. flag flowing into the space shuttle signifies the support the people of the United States have given our space program over the years, along with pride the U.S. astronauts have in representing the United States on this mission.” On page 2, “Upcoming challenges bring in the new year”. “A new year is upon us and the challenges abound! The future holds great things for the Kennedy Space Center… This is a truly exciting time for human spaceflight. As we look around Kennedy we see the signs of change and new beginnings… Page 4 In the Vehicle Assembly Building, the upper stage for the Ares I-X test flight is being stacked… The Operations and Checkout Building’s high bay has been totally redone and is being dedicated this month to support the assembly and processing of the new Orion spacecraft… In addition to the new challenges presented by the Constellation Program, we have five shuttle missions scheduled this year… Now, add to this an expendable launch program that’s one of the most aggressive in recent years… Change isn’t always easy to deal with. Often times it brings with it uncertainty about the future, which can cause concern. Administrations, programs and management personnel may come and go, but the one thing that remains constant is Kennedy Space Center is the premier launch facility for America’s space program… Change also brings with it the opportunity to do our jobs even better… The future is here; it’s at Kennedy now, and we have to deliver… This is going to be a great year and it’s a privilege to be a part of this outstanding Kennedy team.” On pages 4 and 5, “Scenes Around Kennedy Space Center”. “STS-126 crew members chatted with Kennedy workers after the astronauts’ presentation Jan. 14 of their experiences during the mission. Pilot Eric Boe signs a picture during the crew return.” From The February 6, 2009, Spaceport News On page 2, “O&C high bay ready for Orion processing”, by Linda Herridge, Spaceport News. Part of the feature says “NASA’s Constellation Program took another giant step forward as representatives from NASA, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Space Florida and the state of Florida helped mark the completion of renovations to the historic Operations and Checkout Building, or O&C, high bay at Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 26. Kennedy Director Bob Cabana welcomed participants to the event and thanked the state of Florida for their $35 million commitment toward the high bay renovations. “This is a real program and we have real hardware here,” Cabana said. “We’re ready for Orion; we’re ready to go back to the moon.” Cabana said the new Page 5 facility will create about 400 jobs, which is important at this time… “We need to focus on our future,” Cabana said. “With change comes opportunity.”… Workers replaced everything in the 70,000-square-foot high bay and the 20,000-square- foot basement, except the basic structure. A tour of the facility revealed new walls, ceilings, paint, air conditioning, wiring, a new state-of-the art heavy lift crane and specially designed epoxy flooring. Participants also were able to view mock-ups of the Orion capsule and a heat shield. Total renovation costs were about $55 million…”. “Representatives from NASA, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Space Florida and the state of Florida participated in a ceremony Jan. 26 to mark the completion of renovations on the historic Operations and Checkout Building high bay for the Constellation Program. Orion, America’s future human spaceflight vehicle, will be capable of transporting four crew members to the moon and later will support crew transfers to Mars….”. On pages 4 and 5, “Scenes Around Kennedy Space Center”. “Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, left, takes part in a wreath-laying ceremony paying tribute to the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other NASA colleagues who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery, during NASA’s Day of Remembrance observance at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. At right, is Mark Nappi, United Space Alliance vice president of Launch and Recovery Systems and Florida Site Executive.” Page 6 On page 7, “First KSC shuttle landing 25 years ago”, by Kay Grinter, Reference Librarian.